2024-05470. Paper Plates From China, Thailand, and Vietnam; Determinations

On the basis of the record ^[1] developed in the subject investigations, the United States International Trade Commission (“Commission”) determines, pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (“the Act”), that there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured by reason of imports of paper plates from China, Thailand, and Vietnam, provided for in subheading 4823.69.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value (“LTFV”) and to be subsidized by the governments of China and Vietnam.^[2]

Commencement of Final Phase Investigations

Pursuant to section 207.18 of the Commission's rules, the Commission also gives notice of the commencement of the final phase of its investigations. The Commission will issue a final phase notice of scheduling, which will be published in the Federal Register as provided in § 207.21 of the Commission's rules, upon notice from the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) of affirmative preliminary determinations in the investigations under §§ 703(b) or 733(b) of the Act, or, if the preliminary determinations are negative, upon notice of affirmative final determinations in those investigations under §§ 705(a) or 735(a) of the Act. Parties that filed entries of appearance in the preliminary phase of the investigations need not enter a separate appearance for the final phase of the investigations. Any other party may file an entry of appearance for the final phase of the investigations after publication of the final phase notice of scheduling. Industrial users, and, if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level, representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as parties in Commission antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the investigations. As provided in section 207.20 of the Commission's rules, the Director of the Office of Investigations will circulate draft questionnaires for the final phase of the investigations to parties to the investigations, placing copies on the Commission's Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov), for comment.

Background

On January 25, 2024, the American Paper Plate Coalition, which is comprised of AJM Packaging Corporation, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Aspen Products, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri; Dart Container Corporation, Mason, Michigan; Hoffmaster Group, Inc., Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Huhtamaki Americas, Inc., De Soto, Kansas; and Unique Industries, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, filed petitions with the Commission and Commerce, alleging that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of subsidized imports of paper plates from China and Vietnam and LTFV imports of paper plates from China, Thailand, and Vietnam. Accordingly, effective January 25, 2024, the Commission instituted countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701–TA–704–705 and antidumping duty investigation Nos. 731–TA–1664–1666 (Preliminary).

Notice of the institution of the Commission's investigations and of a public conference to be held in connection therewith was given by posting copies of the notice in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, and by publishing the notice in the Federal Register of January 31, 2024 (89 FR 6130). The Commission conducted its conference on February 15, 2024. All persons who requested the opportunity were permitted to participate.

The Commission made these determinations pursuant to §§ 703(a) and 733(a) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a) and 1673b(a)). It completed and filed its determinations in these investigations on March 11, 2024. The views of the Commission are contained in USITC Publication 5499 (March 2024), entitled Paper Plates from China, Thailand, and Vietnam: Investigation Nos. 701–TA–704–705 and 731–TA–1664–1666 (Preliminary).

By order of the Commission.

Issued: March 11, 2024.

Lisa Barton,

Secretary to the Commission.

Footnotes

1.  The record is defined in § 207.2(f) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 207.2(f)).

2.  89 FR 13043 (February 21, 2024) and 89 FR 14046 (February 26, 2024).